Widows Program given to churches at no cost requires minimal time from pastoral staff.

[OneDayAttaTime]

As the former owner of a computer supply company, who did well in the computer business, Buddy Stone, Stand in the Gap founder, wanted to spend the second half of his life helping people. But he and like-minded friends struggled with the best way to do that; often trying to help people by writing a check or just giving them something.

Stone and his friends eventually formed the idea of a nonprofit using the same business-minded approach to help widows. Parapharasing famous business guru Tom Peters, who had a saying about how to make a customer happy, Stone says “You just go ask them what they want and give it to them.”

The motto and mission statement of Stand in the Gap Ministries is “connecting people in need with people who care.”

Stand in the Gap for Widows provides a manual, at no charge to churches, which shares a widow's simple needs (practical needs, a listening heart and for her husband and herself to be remembered). Minimal time is required from pastoral staff.



Stand in the Gap for Widows (short video) explains it rather well and has the contact info where churches can get the program, at no cost.




TulsaPeople story, December 2015 issue

[OneDayAttaTime]

• Many mental-health professionals gauge the death of a spouse as the most stressful event a person will face in their lifetime.
• As death is inevitable for each of us, many wives will face this lonely road, alone.
• A widow, in shock, doesn't know what she needs when friends first ask. Yet, support from friends and family drops off significantly, as the the weeks pass.
• Stress and depression, caused by deep grief and loneliness may be misunderstood by those who have not been affected by the loss of a spouse. Only another widow can understand the excruciating pain that can last for years.Only another widow can understand the excruciating pain that can last for years. (Stand in the Gap for Widows explains a very simple way that a church can help widows connect with each other, giving them the kind of support they so desperately need, no matter how long she has been widowed.)

Widows have shared that while their church believes they are taking care of widows, they really don't understand what it is that a widow needs. Stand in the Gap for Widows did the research and now willing shares it!

[seain dublin]

How about widowers? It's not just women who lose a spouse.